PHOENIX — A Phoenix Boy Scout troop is trying to recuperate after their trailer was stolen last week.
Blake Kite, the advisor for the Black Mountain Chapter of Order of the Arrow, explained he was "devastated" to find out their group was left without supplies they would need for two upcoming events.
"We've collected years of our supplies for holding camping events for our scouts, holding powwow events for our Cub Scouts," Kite said. "We had duct tape, pioneering poles, ropes, compasses, cast iron, and a lot of team-building games that will be hard to replace."
Kite said, fortunately, the trailer itself was insured but said the contents in the trailer were estimated at $6,000.
Domenic Kite, a scout from the group and Blake Kite's son said he and other fellow scouts were "shocked" to hear what had happened.
"We like to help provide service and many types of help to the community so this just hurts that foundation that we had built," Domenic Kite said. "It's a deep loss, more than just the value of the items, but the value of each individual person that spent time with each of the activities."
Domenic Kite said his troop was working to find solutions to rebuild the supplies they'll need for their events.
"One thing in scouting, we learn to embrace is roadblocks and we learn how to work with each of the roadblocks that we encounter and get through it," Domenic said. "It's surprising to see how everyone works together to find solutions or how people in our community have come together to help support us in that loss."
Blake Kite said although unlikely, he hoped whoever stole the trailer would have the heart to return it.
"We would not press charges, we would be able to continue having great programs for our scouts and our Cub Scouts and would appreciate just having it back," Blake said.
The organization has set up a GoFundMe to help recuperate some of the costs for the contents inside the trailer. Click here if you would like to donate.
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